Eastern Europe
Exploring the Hidden Europe in 2004 and 2008-2011
In 2004, I visited all 25 countries in Eastern Europe. You'll find the blog entries from that trip here. In 2008-2011, I returned to see what had changed since that time. With these two visits, five years apart, I accumulated enough material for my 750-page book, The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us.
This blog now has many excerpts from The Hidden Europe. But who the hell reads anymore? Just look at the best photos from Eastern Europe!
This map reflects how I define Eastern Europe. Eastern Europeans love to deny that they're in Eastern Europe. I tackle how and why I define Eastern Europe the way I do in the Introduction of The Hidden Europe.
This is an advertorial
Say privet to St. Petersburg
Sometimes you have all the time in the world to explore a city and sometimes you only have three days.
You still want to make sure that you don't miss the important stuff though, as well as taste some of the local cuisines. Attempting to cover all the important stuff in St. Petersburg in just three days require some planning but it can be done and should be done.
St. Petersburg is an incredible city where the ancient fuses together with the modern to make an eclectic backdrop for the millions of people living there. It is also the perfect destination for your next weekend away. St. Petersburg is exciting and it is vibrant. There is something for everyone and it is simply waiting for you to discover all of its treasures.
Before you head to Russia though there are some practical matters to attend to first. Such as the fact that you most likely will have to obtain a visa to enter the country, and should, therefore, read up on visa requirements for Russia. It might also be good to have some suggestions as to where you should spend your time, seeing as you only have 72 hours in the city.
A visa for Russia
It is possible to travel to Russia visa-free depending on your nationality. Most likely you will need to apply for and obtain a tourist visa though and these are valid for stays up to 30 days. In addition to applying for a visa, you will also have to meet the additional visa requirements including submitting a tourist invitation letter, a travel itinerary and visiting an embassy or consulate to complete the visa application process.
However, as of 2021, it will be possible to complete the entire visa application process online as the visa will be, as of then an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). You will no longer have to apply for the visa in person which means no more trips to the embassy's or consulates. In order to be sure you have not missed any vital information when it comes to the visa application process, it's best to visit official sites online for an exhaustive list of all rules and regulations.
What to do and see from Day 1 to Day 3
Day 1 - Palace Square, start the day at this open space where contrasting architecture lines the streets and history is ever-present. Continue the day with a visit to one of the world's most famous art museums, the State Hermitage Museum, conveniently located in the Winter Palace. Finish with a stroll along Nevsky Prospekt and discover the buzzing nightlife.
Day 2 - Start the next day with a visit to The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood and marvel at its wonder. Next, head to the State Russian Museum for some more art lessons and end the day at the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Day 3 - Spend the final day in Peter the Great's garden, Peterhof Grand Palace before heading to Catherine Palace and Park. After a full day outside, spend the evening at State Academical Mariinskiy Theatre.
Guest post by Zoey Molnar
Are you traveling to Budapest and searching for a great restaurant? Budapest has many, and, of course, it depends on your own preference, but you will love each of the following restaurants as they will give you a genuine taste of Budapest's finest dishes. I chose these restaurants for their ambiance, location, and, of course, awards.
Let's drill down into each one.
Guest post by Agness and Cez of eTramping
When it comes to visiting the Arctic Circle, people mostly concentrate on the usual. Scandinavian countries, Finland, Greenland, Alaska and the Yukon are getting all the attention. Still, Russia holds almost half of the territory that makes up the Arctic Circle – so why aren’t people visiting?
As one of the most “off the beaten track” areas in the world, there are a few valid reasons why the Russian Arctic isn’t very well known as a travel destination:
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One of them is that Russia only opened its doors to visitors after the collapse of the Soviet Union;
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Extreme conditions and lack of roads which make it so hard to travel;
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The militarization of the Arctic;
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Permits required to visit certain areas. If you’re familiar with traveling to Tibet in China, for example, you know it takes a while…
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